So, it's July again and you know what that means? Sun, surfing... and.... The Fabled GMC Jam #15 is here!!! Time to create a 72 hour GameMaker masterpiece with which to scare away all the opposition and win the approval (or not!) of our peers. This time around the Jam will run from Saturday 26th of July through Monday 28th and will be 72 hours dedicated purely to game development. Are you ready?

For those of you that aren't initiated in the ways of the Jam, please read on...

WHAT IS IT?

The Jam is a community event that we organise to encourage people to experiment with GM and make something that will be interesting or entertaining within the limited timescale of 72 hours.

WHEN IS IT?

Competition officially Starts Saturday 26th July (but hype usually starts up on Friday before midnight when the theme is announced)

Each jam has a theme, and participants are very much encouraged to use it

This jam has a handicap too and you are also encouraged to use it

Using the theme is NOT obligatory, nor is using the handicap, but using either will be valued when voting and using BOTH gets extra Kudos!

To encourage use of theme, the highest-voted theme-based game gets to choose the theme for next Jam.

The theme will not be revealed until just before the start of the Jam to prevent any advantages.

VOTING

All games are eligible (themed and non-themed and with or without handicap), but voters should take "use of theme" into account. Remember: non-theme games can win, but they CANNOT pick the next Jam's theme (see above).

Voters rank all games, ultimately choosing 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as new special categories: Best use of restrictions, Best Presentation and Best newcomer.

It is OBLIGATORY that when voting you leave feedback about WHY you voted for the game(s) you chose, even if it's only a few lines to say you loved the game idea or whatever. Failure to do so may result in your votes being removed.

In order to encourage friendly community spirit, we ask that members not vote for their own game and please refrain from asking friends/family to do so if they are not part of this community. This has happened before and if you are found out your game may be removed from the Jam.

Any form of cheating will result in the instant removal of your game from the jam and being blacklisted for all further community events.

PARTICIPATING

All games must be original creations specifically for the Jam, but you may use whatever resources you wish to complete the game: EG. dll, scripts, sprites and sounds etc etc etc...

You may submit as many games as you wish, but only the highest rated game in the final vote will be eligible for winning any prizes.

Games must be posted in the Official Games Topic before the finish deadline for the Jam, and posting a topic in the Games (or WIP) forum here at the GMC is recommended if you want feedback and opinions as the Games Topic is ONLY FOR POSTING GAMES. Hosting is up to the individual user. You may also include and update a development log in your official games topic post.

The Official Games Topic must contain a link to your game and a short description.

HTML5 Games are permitted, BUT MUST HAVE DIRECT LINK TO DOWNLOADABLE .EXE VERSION posted in the Official Games Topic.

People are welcome to use any outside sites, and are also welcome to promote such sites, but the posting of topics and the voting will be done on the GMC.

Teams are encouraged and can be organised by you with whomever you wish or you can participate in a random team (see below for more details)

GMC PRIZES

Top three places - All get bragging rights (obviously), a banner, and entry into the hall of fame topic.

1st Place - Gets to choose the next theme, as long as their game fit the theme this time around

2nd Place - Gets to choose the next handicap, as long as their game used the handicap this time around

3rd Place - Gets to choose the secret word* for the next jam -*see the second post of this topic for more details

Prizes will also be offered as members of the community contribute whatever the feel appropriate. EG: Coverage on their web site, custom graphics for the game, a video of the gameplay for YouTube...anything!

COMMUNITY PRIZE LIST

These are prizes kindly and very generously offered to us by GMC members. Donate your time/experience/whatever to this community endeavor! If you wish to add a community prize (game reviews, advertising etc...) please send a PM to me or Dangerous_Dave and they will add it to this post.

PLEASE DO NOT POST YOUR COMMUNITY PRIZE IN THIS TOPIC AS WE MAY NOT SEE IT!

Try not to let all of the prizes dominate 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place (but please do not reward last place!).

You may choose who gets your prize including: competitors, reviewers, winners of specific categories, or even the best development log!

FortyEightKay - I'd like to offer a prize of a 3D printed medal with " Jam #15" on it. I'll make one for each of the top 5.

Snail_Man - Top 3 winners from the jam will somehow feature in my next game.

Yal - Top 3 winners gets a hand-drawn A4-sized concept art of one character of their choice (not necessarily from their jam game).

Yal - Best Newcomer gets a custom platformer game tileset (16x16 pixel tiles, around 128x128 total size) depicting a biome of their choice, with full commercial rights.

GVmakesGames - Jam games from 1 to 10 get a picture of the main characters of their game interacting with the other top 10 characters.

mr magnus - The creator of the entry I find uses the theme in the most original/out of the box way will receive a Steam game worth $10 or less of their choice and a special signature Medal praising the feat.

the entry landing exactly one place above my entry (in case of a Tie I'll pick the game that ranked higher in my own voting) will be allowed to design the protagonist of my GMC.16 entry( if he does not give me his description or design 2 weeks before the #16 Jam I'll use his\her avatar as the base of the design) along with a special signature Medal.

The best/most helpful reviewer in my opinion will get a signature Medal, and be featured as an Easter egg in my Jam.16 game if he\she wishes

LukanSpellweaver - I will be doing full game reviews for the top 5 games and the bottom 5 games in my next Indie Beacon. These reviews will be separate from my voting reviews.

LukanSpellweaver - I will put everyone who enters this jam in my next jam game, as long as they actually finish their game.
The character will either be avatar based, or designed by the user.

LukanSpellweaver - I will be making vector medals based on the games for tenth through fifteenth place. I will supply them with both png and swfs, as well as signature friendly sizes.

LukanSpellweaver - All of the new Best Of categories will receive Best Of medals, separate of the official ones (if such exist yet).
These Medals will all be uniform(same design), except for the title on them and colouring.

smash ball - I would like to offer the following prize to 15th, 20th, and 25th places. Their choice of one of my assets from the marketplace for free.

Mercerenies - 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th places, as well as my personal favorite game, will be featured in a video playthrough that I will record after the Jam. 25th place will be featured as an Easter egg in my Jam 16 game. 19th and 21st places, as well as best newcomer, will receive an exclusive cheat code to unlock special content in my roytheshort-based Jam parody game.

Alice - for places 17 to 27, I'll explain how I approached problem of choice in my 13th, 14th or 15th Jam game, as long as it's not too large (so dialogue system or level selection is fine, but entire game is not), as described here.

Lavender - Okay, I'll make a recipe for whoever comes 12th. If you have any special requirements (vegetarian, vegan etc), I will make sure to cater to these. The recipe itself will be based from the game. To the person who places 12th, I will compose (and produce) a music track in any style of your choosing. Track length is 2 minutes.

Lan Shade - the last place wins a sprite of a cake.

Exkakx - Writing a love song to the player in 6th place. Don't know how or why, but I will.

Slammin Sam - I'd like to offer a JCHTML5 Basic license ($29) to the highest placing entry that has a playable HTML5 version.

Messmerd - I am willing to name a character in my upcoming game after the 7th and 8th place winners in GMC Jam 15.

ParodyKnaveBob - I will write and perform a song of parody for the 4th place winner!* *The prize will go down the rank list to the next available entry under the following circumstances: I'm involved with the entry or I morally disagree too strongly with the entry's content.

Looking For A TeamIf you are looking for a team mate or wish to be part of a random team, PM Dangerous_Dave or GameDevDan to add your name below:

Voters rank games, ultimately choosing 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as voting on new special categories: Best use of restrictions, Best Presentation and Best newcomer.

The voting period will be exactly 14 days long.

1st and 2nd pick the next theme and handicap as normal, but 3rd place now gets to pick the "secret word" for GMC Jam 16.

What is the secret word?

This is a purely optional & experimental prize, and is intended to be a laugh rather than a vote-affecting restriction. The secret word will only be partially revealed or hinted during the running of the jam. Entrants include an element in their game that represents the word they think it is - but they'll only know after the jam whether they got the word right or not! So for example, at the start of the jam the following may be revealed:

_ _ A R _ I _ _

Entrants may include something alarming in their game, or some sparring, or may simply add a starfish guardian to their entry. But nobody will know what the correct word is until the jam is finished! Again this is experimental, and will begin in Jam 16. If we don't like it after that it can be scrapped - if we like it so much that everyone wants to choose it next time we may swap the order of the prizes around - who knows until we try it? Either way have your say in this topic on what you think of this potential new mechanic for the next jam.

I like what you've added in for this Jam, I think it's taken the key points people have been discussing prior to this topic and acted upon them reasonably.

The secret word is an interesting idea- it could either lead to a lot of different ideas being included in peoples games, or a lot of people might all latch onto the same secret word and we could see many different charming characters appearing, for example. Either way, 3rd now has something to influence the next Jam with less ability to control the overriding aspects of the game, so I think it's a good prize

Only vote for top 3? Hmm, that's both good and bad.. but I like it, let's see how it plays out.

That's been the wording in the first post of every jam since I started copy-pasting from Nocturne's post - you can vote for as many games as you like I agree that sounds a bit dodgy though *scurries away to edit the post*

Only vote for top 3? Hmm, that's both good and bad.. but I like it, let's see how it plays out.

That's been the wording in the first post of every jam since I started copy-pasting from Nocturne's post - you can vote for as many games as you like I agree that sounds a bit dodgy though *scurries away to edit the post*

Daaaaaaaaan.

So everything is as normal except the new categories and secret word, then.

Just to clarify, are we are scrapping voting for "Best Devlog"? It seems the "Best use of Theme" and "Best use of Handicap" are now combined into "Best use of restrictions" and "Best Overall Presentation" is now simply "Best Presentation". It's more concise, which is a good thing

Secret word... I wonder how it'll turn out, but it sure sounds like fun.

As for it potentially being something people would like to choose more than theme/handicap: that's why back in the suggestions topic I proposed that winners gets to choose one of three restrictions, second place picks one of two remaining ones and third gets whatever is left.

Also, there are only 15502 11-letter words, according to this list. Sure guessing a theme shouldn't be too hard. ^^"

I don't care about the hint system, it's just to mislead you, this is definitely the right word!

Anyhow: can we please not clutter the games topic with <reserved> post this time around? It does absolutely nothing for your game when it comes to ranking and it just annoys those that actually wait until they have any content.

Also, I think the secret word is an awesome compromise between the 3rd place winner being able to choose something, but it not eclipsing the 2nd place winner's thing (Like a second handicap). Props to whoever came up with that idea.

Agreed, one of the best things about secret word is that it interferes with neither theme nor handicap, but it adds some value and challenge . Also, I'm pretty sure the community in general is reasonable enough not to take use of secret word into account (i.e. whether someone guessed it or not) into final voting. That said, I suppose secret word creates additional room for interesting community prizes (i.e. instead of Nth place or personal favourite, or maybe best use of restrictions, people might give prizes to games that correctly include the secret word or something like that; if I won't forget, I might include the prize for whoever comes up with the most creative and amusing excuse explaining how their game does include the secret word the next Jam, even if it doesn't ^^).

Too bad there apparently isn't a secret word this Jam, because it sounds like that will be a whole lot of fun once it gets used. :3

Yeah, I'd like to see the secret word in *this* jam, just so we know if it effectively is a good idea. Maybe the users should suggest a word and a randomizer will choose the one for this jam, this way we have a first secret word that nobody knows

Oh yeah, very quick & minor request: Is it possible to change the name of the games topic so the first half isn't identical to the first half of this topic? It makes switching between the tabs annoying. (Because I can't tell which on is which).

Yeah, I'd like to see the secret word in *this* jam, just so we know if it effectively is a good idea. Maybe the users should suggest a word and a randomizer will choose the one for this jam, this way we have a first secret word that nobody knows

Yeah, I'd like to see the secret word in *this* jam, just so we know if it effectively is a good idea. Maybe the users should suggest a word and a randomizer will choose the one for this jam, this way we have a first secret word that nobody knows

Nothing. Nothing at all. You can still vote for either 3 games that you like, vote for 5, vote for 16 or rank every single game that is entered. It's completely up to you, only requirement is that you rank at least 3 games and review those 3. The rest of the games can be as many or few as you like and have no review, small review, detailed review and so on and so forth.

Oh, Snail, I see you changed your avatar again. I like this one much better than your previous one!

Also, the theme is clearly ROYTHESHORT (or keponsessss, but this one is unlikely). It fits perfectly, and we sure had him severely underrepresented the last Jam. Besides, we all know that Blake is such a great fan of Roy!!1...I guess I'll just wait for at least one theme letter to appear, though, just in case...

On a side note, I suppose I'll go solo this time. I wonder how it'll turn out now. I bet I'll be completely useless on my own!

Oh yeaah, I'm so in this.
Also, I think the secret word is an awesome compromise between the 3rd place winner being able to choose something, but it not eclipsing the 2nd place winner's thing (Like a second handicap). Props to whoever came up with that idea.

Anywho, I'll be offering my usual prize, which is the Top 3 winners from the jam will somehow feature in my next game.

I'll take those props, thank you added your prize to the list.

Too bad there apparently isn't a secret word this Jam, because it sounds like that will be a whole lot of fun once it gets used. :3

Yeah, I'd like to see the secret word in *this* jam, just so we know if it effectively is a good idea. Maybe the users should suggest a word and a randomizer will choose the one for this jam, this way we have a first secret word that nobody knows

There can be a secret word if you all want there to be one, it's the community jam after all. Shall I just come up with one this time to start us off?

Oh yeah, very quick & minor request: Is it possible to change the name of the games topic so the first half isn't identical to the first half of this topic? It makes switching between the tabs annoying. (Because I can't tell which on is which).

Also, the theme is clearly ROYTHESHORT (or keponsessss, but this one is unlikely). It fits perfectly, and we sure had him severely underrepresented the last Jam. Besides, we all know that Blake is such a great fan of Roy!!1...I guess I'll just wait for at least one theme letter to appear, though, just in case...

Oh dear, apparently my higher mathematics sense awoke, rendering me unable to count up to anything larger than 2. After all, it's a common knowledge that higher maths rarely ever operate on numbers at all, and if it does, these numbers aren't anything higher than 8. Or something.

But yes, if there are 13 letters, it must mean only one thing...The theme is ROYTHESHORTER!

(it's actually quite convenient, since there are only 7827 of English 13-letter words ^^)

Also, Dan, yes, please do include the secret word in this Jam. Can't wait to see how it turns out. :3(after all, it's only 13 days, 6 hours and 46 minutes till then...)

Yeah I agree, I see no harm in having the secret word introduced for this Jam as it's not too late to do so. I'm fine with either Dan or diptoman (3rd place last Jam, I knew making that topic would have uses ) choosing it

My understanding is you only get part of the word, then after the jam it's revealed. So you have to guess at what it is.
Which sounds pretty fun! I'm glad the jam is getting some additions this time around!

What I understood is: the jam starts, and the secret word is revealed together with the theme/handicap.

People makes a game with the word hidden in it.

What comes out of smash ball's post tells: jam starts. Theme and handicap are revealed. Part of the secret word is revealed.

People makes a game with what they think the word is.

Which one is right? Smash ball's version is even better, for me.

I read it as the latter- the secret word is only revealed once the "Jam is finished". Whether that means after the 3 days of game making are up and the voting period begins or once the winners are announced I'm not quite sure.

Yay! Jam time! I'll definitely be in this time. I love the secret word idea.

Unfortunately, I can't offer my usual community prize of video playthroughs since I'll be in college when the results come out, and I'm not certain my roommate would appreciate me talking to myself on recording for thirty minutes xD